Let me start out by saying that I am a HUGE proponent of Hospice and the Hospice philosphy, and I am sure that my recent experience is FAR from the norm. But I still feel the need to share as both an education to others and as a way to deal.
Recently I have had a close family member die while in the in-patient services of Hospice. During that time she and the immediate family received the best of care. The husband of the woman (married for 45+ years- seemingly happilyy) is obviously going through a dysfunctional grief process (AEB recent events). The husband became very close to the nursing staff due to the length of stay (approx 60 days). After the wife's death, the husband had a very strong need to reach out to one nurse in particular for comfort.
Here's the cincher:
Within less than one after the death of the spouse, the Hospice nurse (single and 20 years younger than the new widower) gave this man her home phone number and agreed to meet with him for dinner and a movie on a weekend evening to "talk" (about two weeks after the spouse had passed). Hmmm, sounds like a "date" to me.
OBVIOUSLY this is a no-no. I have made the director aware of the situation and am hoping this RN receives some re-education and I plan to continue to go further if the RN continues in this behavior.
Also obviously this has caused family conflict at a time when family interpersonal relationships need to be at their most open.
So, what policies/in-services does your Hospice facility provide to the staff about boundaries and appropriate termination of the nurse-pt/family relationship and these types of situations?
It totally sucks that I have to deal with this now too, as it was totally unneccessary. What sucks even more is that I will never forget it, and it will always leave that sour taste in my mouth.
I've started out on a case where one of the nurses definitely has destroyed any professional boundaries. She comes from her other job and spends the night at this client's house, raises her voice at the other children in the home and at the mom as well. Interacts with me while I am taking care of the client. I feel very uncomfortable with this but know that if I say anything at the agency, I will be cutting my own throat as far as having a job is concerned.
caliotter3
38,333 Posts
I've started out on a case where one of the nurses definitely has destroyed any professional boundaries. She comes from her other job and spends the night at this client's house, raises her voice at the other children in the home and at the mom as well. Interacts with me while I am taking care of the client. I feel very uncomfortable with this but know that if I say anything at the agency, I will be cutting my own throat as far as having a job is concerned.